{"id":156323,"date":"2025-08-18T17:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T17:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/156323\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T17:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T17:59:09","slug":"former-wide-receiver-named-starting-qb-for-g5-college-football-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/156323\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Wide Receiver Named Starting QB for G5 College Football Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chase Jenkins was always a standout quarterback. Having started his QB journey at Bellaire Episcopal and led his team Southwest Preparatory Conference Class 4A championship as a freshman, Jenkins was excellent at Class 6A Alief Taylor High School as well. His junior season stat? Chase completed 60% of his pass attempts for 1,800 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry for 695 rushing yards. <\/p>\n

When Chase Jenkins first arrived at Rice in 2023, 247Sports ranked him as a three-star prospect. He even made five appearances for the Owls in his true freshman season, including the bowl game, but he failed to leave his mark as a QB. The following season, he had no option but to transition to wide receiver before ultimately redshirting after two games. While it seemed like Jenkins\u2019 QB career was over, everything changed after the Owls joined forces with Scott Abell this year.<\/p>\n

The QB room at the program was already flooded with two potential starters, Drew Devillier and A. J. Padgett. But Abell wanted Chase Jenkins, who had already switched from QB to WR in 2024, to get another crack at the job. Per the Rice HC, the 6\u2032 0\u2033, 191 lbs QB fits well in the Owls\u2019 newly implemented spread-option offense. \u201cSkillset, we thought he would be a dynamic fit offensively, and he had a good spring,\u201d Abell said back in April this year. Fast forward four months, and Abell made it official: Jenkins will be the QB1 for the season opener against Louisiana.<\/p>\n

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Pete Thamel, a renowned college football insider, confirmed the news. \u201cRice has named redshirt freshman Chase Jenkins the team\u2019s starting quarterback, and he\u2019ll start the team\u2019s opener at Louisiana. His ability to pressure defenses with his arm and legs helped him win the job as new head coach Scott Abell\u2019s first starting quarterback,\u201d Thamel confirmed the move via X.<\/p>\n

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Sources: Rice has named redshirt freshman Chase Jenkins the team\u2019s starting quarterback, and he\u2019ll start the team\u2019s opener at Louisiana. His ability to pressure defenses with his arm and legs helped him win the job as new head coach Scott Abell\u2019s first starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com\/68RLxSnhb8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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At 6\u20190\u2033, 190lbs, and hailing from Katy, Texas, Jenkins is a dual-threat quarterback. He is quick off the snap and poised in the pocket, but deadly when scrambling. In just four career QB appearances, he\u2019s thrown for 100 yards (completing 13 of 19 passes), run for 82 yards, and notched a highlight 28-yard touchdown scamper against ECU. His track background shows every time he tucks and goes. More than stats, it\u2019s his energy and natural athleticism. And Abell\u2019s Rice Gun Choice scheme rewards players who can make defenders hesitate, and Jenkins is built for pressure with both his arm and legs.<\/p>\n

Abell is a triple-option innovator, fresh off a run of dominant rushing seasons at Davidson. Abell\u2019s squad led the nation in rushing six of the last seven seasons at Davidson. Now, Rice is adopting it. The QB needs to threaten every inch of turf, and Jenkins fits the bill. \u201cHe\u2019s a smallish speedster who might be the best overall fit,\u201d as one season preview put it. That speed is exactly what Abell will lean on, using Jenkins to force hesitation on defenses. This presents new challenges for opponents, as defenders have to account for multiple threats on every snap, adding a layer of complexity to Rice\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n

The Jenkins\/Abell pairing is the talk of preseason camp. He won the job with a blend of mobility, accuracy, and big-play potential. Though last year\u2019s limited reps mean he\u2019ll need to learn on the job. In every practice, he\u2019s shown the sort of creative, adaptable thinking that this offense demands.<\/p>\n

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Rice won\u2019t find many breathers on this slate, and Abell\u2019s debut year won\u2019t let Jenkins ease into things. The road ahead will test Jenkins\u2019 growth and prepare him for the pace and physicality demanded at this level. The Owls open at Louisiana, then face Houston, Prairie View A&M, and Charlotte, all before a brutal stretch against Navy, FAU, and UTSA. Predictions peg Rice at 4-5 wins, maybe a bowl contender if Jenkins adapts quickly, and the defense pulls its weight. The AAC is deep, but there are upset opportunities at Charlotte, North Texas, and UAB.<\/p>\n

RJ Young\u2019s preseason rankings have Rice at 115th, but Jenkins could rewrite expectations. Each game on the schedule represents an opportunity for Jenkins and the Owls to build confidence and prove their potential, especially in those matchups with evenly matched opponents where a breakthrough victory could shift the season\u2019s trajectory. So, Jenkins might be an emerging name, and Rice might be picked low, but there\u2019s real belief brewing. Watch Jenkins closely; if the new system clicks, Jenkins flashes his dual-threat talent, and Abell works his magic, the Owls can surprise a few doubters along the way.<\/p>\n